what is the best "bang for your buck" tool maker/seller?

[purbeast0]

i bought the rigid drill/impact driver combo and have used it a bunch and it has held up very well. think i have a ryobi orbital sander which is just okay. i used my buddies ryobi router which was pretty damn awesome though.

 

[mztykal]

Kobalt at Lowes makes nice hand tools now. I like their ratchets better than my SnapOn stuff now.

 

[alkemyst]

Craftsman...but seeing they just cancelled my nearly $10k credit line with them from lack of activity, I may re-evaluate. I spent a TON with them since I got my card at 18.

 

[Centauri]

Craftsman...but seeing they just cancelled my nearly $10k credit line with them from lack of activity, I may re-evaluate. I spent a TON with them since I got my card at 18.

Don't blame Sears, it's Citi bank that mandated 12-month-inactivity account closures when they took over Sears credit.

 

[Svnla]

Anything and everything from Habor Freight Tools.

<running away...fast>

 

[Triumph]

Whatever you do, don't buy a Craftsman toolbox. Do yourself a favor and go get one of the orange Harbor Freight 26" or 40" boxes.

 

[evident]

Craftsman hand tools USED to be all made in the USA. Nowadays, many are made in China...and IMO, quality has declined.

Home Depot's Ridgid Power tools are Chinese built, (like all cordless tools) but they're very good...and like some video cards, if you register them, you get a "lifetime service agreement" for them. I have their smaller 18v Lithium-Ion drill. I'm impressed by how good it is. I also have their corded "multi-tool" with the plunge cutter and auto-hammer attachments. Nice tools.

As far as I know, sockets wrenches and things like that are still USA made.I literally have stocked my tools in the last year with mostly craftsman stuff thanks to slickdeaks on some of them

 

[Triumph]

As far as I know, sockets wrenches and things like that are still USA made.I literally have stocked my tools in the last year with mostly craftsman stuff thanks to slickdeaks on some of them

They are changing. All of the old hand tools have MADE IN USA stamped into them. Instead of stamping "MADE IN CHINA" they simply removed the original text. Some old stock is still around so you can still find them. Personally I don't want to support Sears anymore since they've sold out their good name in pursuit of the bottom line. And if I'm going to pay for tools made in China, I might as well get them for a good price (HF).

But HF is hit or miss. Their aluminum jack isn't bad. The torque wrenches aren't bad. The toolboxes are excellent. Their power tools, no thanks.

 

[ssm0002]

Kobalt at Lowe's and Husky at Home Depot are decent lines. I also like the ATD line of tools...you can find them at nationaltoolwarehouse.com

 

[alkemyst]

Don't blame Sears, it's Citi bank that mandated 12-month-inactivity account closures when they took over Sears credit.

/shakes fist!

Also to others. I grew up with crappy Chinese products (I am 42). They are kicking the USA's butt in the affordable market In the uber market, we are still not a contender.

Meanwhile, our fucking MickeyD workers think they are worth $15/hr.

Dear Lord save us!

 

[highland145]

/shakes fist!

Also to others. I grew up with crappy Chinese products (I am 42). They are kicking the USA's butt in the affordable market In the uber market, we are still not a contender.

Meanwhile, our fucking MickeyD workers think they are worth $15/hr.

Dear Lord save us!

Alk, we're hosed unless we have some real leadership step up. Sadly, we won't get it out of DC.

More guns, more ammo.

 

[alkemyst]

Alk, we're hosed unless we have some real leadership step up. Sadly, we won't get it out of DC.

More guns, more ammo.

Americans should speak up. That's what made us awesome. Our senators used to go to fisticuffs over what was important.

 

[highland145]

Americans should speak up. That's what made us awesome. Our senators used to go to fisticuffs over what was important.

LOL Americans, in general, want cheap crap. That's why wal-mart is king. Politicians...LOL X2..."I got mine...oh, yea, America...Fuck yeah." Runs to the bank.

 

[jagec]

I bought a mechanic's set of Husky tools back in college to do routine maintenance. Since then I've added considerably to my tool collection, but I still have most of the stupid things. They've worked fine from day 1 and included all 6-point sockets.

I did managed to break the 1/2" socket wrench. I was trying to get an axle nut off in a junkyard, so I had the thing hooked up to a 24mm socket, with a big pipe hanging off of the handle that I was jumping up and down on. Amazingly, the nut didn't come off, but the handle bent and the ratchet mechanism stopped working. They replaced it no questions asked, and the new one actually looks beefier.

 

[Gillbot]

harbor freight? with the 20% coupon, can't get much better bang for buck than that.

This ^

For general use, I buy Pittsburgh brand at harbor freight and haven't had a single issue. I've had a couple items fail, but I took it to the store and they replaced it no questions asked with an identical item.

Now, I avoid Craftsman like the plague. Their quality is no longer there, they are overpriced for what they are (cheap chinese made tools) and their warranty program is a joke at best. I've been told if you have a good store, they may be still worth it but unfortunately here they are completely useless. At my store, I've taken in GOOD old Craftsman tools and they try to replace it with their generic Companion brand which has no warranty. Not to mention most of the stuff I've purchased there in the last few years has already failed. When compared to the "cheap junk" I buy at harbor freight that is still working and in my toolbox, I'll pass on overpriced Craftsman.

If I need a "good" tool, I usually look for old Craftsman, SK or Snap-on models on eBay since the quality is there. Otherwise I suck it up to a cheap chinese model and accept it probably won't last.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I've also had decent luck with Stanley tools from Wal-Mart.

 

[Greenman]

Rule one, quality is the best value. Harbor Fright power tools are worth scrap value of the metal they're made from. Rigid is pretty good, Riobi is OK.

Go to Tool King and check out the refurb tools. I've purchased around $3k worth of them over the years and have never had a single problem.

 

[grrl]

What are you doing OP?

I would never purchase a tool unless I absolutely need it. Assuming need = buying tools + sitting around for years/never used.

Wrong approach. Unlike a lot of stuff people buy, new tools rarely sit around unused. You always find new needs for them.

I have a lot of old Craftsmen tools. They have served me very well. The rest is a mix of Japanese and Taiwanese stuff from when I lived overseas. I haven't had to buy any new tools in a while, but like another post said, Kobalt looks pretty well made.

 

[Gillbot]

Rule one, quality is the best value. Harbor Fright power tools are worth scrap value of the metal they're made from. Rigid is pretty good, Riobi is OK.

Go to Tool King and check out the refurb tools. I've purchased around $3k worth of them over the years and have never had a single problem.

I have a harbor freight sawzall, belt sander and MANY other tools that are over 7 years old that would like to disagree with you.

 

[Midwayman]

I have a harbor freight sawzall, belt sander and MANY other tools that are over 7 years old that would like to disagree with you.

Yah, Its kinda hit or miss with them. I bought I Miter saw from them for less than it would have cost me to rent one for the weekend and it works fine. Stuff I normally would rent I consider buying from them. Stuff I plan on using frequently I buy quality. I have a belt sander and the miter from HF, but cordless driver and drill from dewalt.

 

[momeNt]

If you are going bang for your buck. I'd avoid going with battery operated tools.

Just get an extension cord for when your work takes you too far from an outlet. If you need to do a quick job, you won't have to worry about batteries, and a long job you won't have to worry about cycling batteries. Also for a heavy duty job you will probably bog down a battery tool quicker than its corded equivalent.

 

[slag]

Dubious. I've bought way too many chinese butter steel items at harbor freight.

I, too, doubted their quality, but after buying several impact combos as well as a torque wrench, flex handle, and several screwdrivers, extensions, I can honestly say if you were going to buy craftsman anyway, the pittsburgh tool quality is identical. Now, its not as good as older 1990's and older craftsman stuff, but it is identical in quality to today's craftsman stuff at 1/3 to 1/2 the price as harbor freight regularly has sales on their stuff.

 

[slag]

They are changing. All of the old hand tools have MADE IN USA stamped into them. Instead of stamping "MADE IN CHINA" they simply removed the original text. Some old stock is still around so you can still find them. Personally I don't want to support Sears anymore since they've sold out their good name in pursuit of the bottom line. And if I'm going to pay for tools made in China, I might as well get them for a good price (HF).

But HF is hit or miss. Their aluminum jack isn't bad. The torque wrenches aren't bad. The toolboxes are excellent. Their power tools, no thanks.

My opinions exactly. Power tools, :thumbsdown: , hand tools, sure, no problem for their pittsburgh stuff. I bought a 20 ton press there and it has worked great as well as a few air impact wrenches that work great also.

 

[Thump553]

I bought a large Craftsman Professional set (Black handles/Black steel) of screwdrivers/pliers around 2000. They were kept in an attached garage and all have rusted, even ones that Ive never used. Some pliers and wire cutters have rusted shut.

I brought them back to Sears and they wont replace them because they say I must have got them wet. They have never been wet although I live right near the bay/ocean so maybe salt air? Even so, my other tools, even cheap Stanleys dont rust. Will never buy Craftsman again.

Bring them back again to a different store-if they reject it again ask for the rejection in writing and escalate it corporate-wise with Sears. Sears warranty on hand tools is unlimited-no exclusions for alleged abuse, etc. I know of people who have replaced Craftsman tools in the same condition you described with absolutely no problems.

<--- very depressed to hear that Craftsman tools are now made in China. I guess there is absolutely no reason any longer to go to Sears.

 

[jaqie]

husky makes good cheap hand tools.
surprisingly, porter cable has been coming out with a lot of less expensive small power tools lately - saw a porter cable hand quarter sheet vibration sander for $40 the other day in the local store, small town store so you know the price was jacked up.
'sides that, I have really liked the skill stuff recently.

 

[Gillbot]

Bring them back again to a different store-if they reject it again ask for the rejection in writing and escalate it corporate-wise with Sears. Sears warranty on hand tools is unlimited-no exclusions for alleged abuse, etc. I know of people who have replaced Craftsman tools in the same condition you described with absolutely no problems.

<--- very depressed to hear that Craftsman tools are now made in China. I guess there is absolutely no reason any longer to go to Sears.

This is why I don't buy Craftsman any more. No matter what, their excuse is that it's been "abused" or some other BS and they never replace anything.